CETACEA. 251 



establishments for its capture.&quot; The Common Porpoise, like the 

 Common Dolphin, is the smallest of the varieties. Between the 

 two there is a general resemblance in color, shape and disposi 

 tion. The scarf skin of the porpoise is very soft to the touch, 

 and easily detached. The eye has the iris of a yellowish hue, 

 and the pupil in the form of V reversed. The opening of the 

 ear is not larger than the prick of a pin; that of the blow. hole 

 is on the top of the head, between the eyes. The dorsal fin, o 1 

 eminence, is not bony, but composed entirely of fat, and incapa 

 ble of separate movement ; and the tail is without any osseous 

 part within. The fat, or blubber is white, from one to two inches 

 thick, and when heated yields an oil that is fine and much val 

 ued. It is &quot;cut through on the back and belly and is peeled off 

 in halves; it is scraped off with an instrument resembling a 

 currier s knife, and the skin is then sent to the tanner. The 

 leather made from thisskin is said to be the strongest known, and 

 is used more particularly for the upper leather of boots and shoes.&quot; 

 (N. H. S. N. Y.) The deep bluish color of the Porpoise fades 

 away on the sides, till it acquires a silvery whiteness. It has 

 ninety-two teeth, cutting and somewhat rounded at the edge. 

 The brain is large and has deep convolutions lying over the cere 

 bellum. The porpoise, the dolphin, and the monkey are the only 

 animals that in this respect resemble man. The food of por 

 poises is chiefly fish, and they occasionally pursue shoals of her 

 ring and mackerel, which they drive into the bays in very great 

 apparent terror. They are great enemies of salmon, which, 

 when pursued by the porpoise, often spring several yards out of 

 the water ; but from the quickness of their foe, are unable * 

 escape. The flesh of the porpoise was once esteemed a volu 

 tuous kind of food, and is said to have been found on the table, 

 of the old English nobility as late as the time of Queen Eliza 

 beth. Later thaa this it was extensively used in some countries, 

 especially during the time of Lent. 



GRAMPUS. (Phoccena orca.) The term Grampus is a corrup 

 tion of the French, Grand-poisson, great fish, pronounced by the 

 Normans, Grapois, whence came the English word GRAMPUS. 

 American sailors have given it the namesof &quot;Killer and Thrash 

 er.&quot; By some, (see Cat. of British Museum in Eng. Cyc.,) a por 

 tion of the animals once included under the genus Grampus, 

 has been formed into a new genus, &quot;Orca,&quot; which includes the | 

 KILLERS proper, and has four species. 



The body is thick in proportion to its length, and of oval shape. 

 The snout short and roundish : the lower jaw somewhat bent 

 upwards, broader, but not so long as the upper. The teeth are 



